What You'll Learn
- How to challenge and improve your balance through sensory deprivation and varied focal points.
- Correct alignment and execution for center movements like passé and sous-sus on demi-pointe.
- Developing internal sensory awareness to feel proper arm and leg placement without a mirror.
- Techniques for maintaining elegance and 'maximum dignity' during difficult balance exercises.
- A structured center warm-up featuring pliés, tendus, and pas de bourrée to prepare for larger movements.
About This Video
Mastering balance is one of the most rewarding yet challenging aspects of ballet. In this 15-minute center practice from Broche Ballet, we move away from the barre to focus on your internal sense of stability and proprioception. Proprioception—the body’s ability to perceive its own position in space—is a critical skill for every dancer, especially when preparing for complex turns and center sequences. This class is designed to help you stop relying on mirrors and start relying on your body's innate intelligence.
The class begins with a foundational warm-up designed to loosen the muscles while establishing a strong connection to the floor. You will perform exercises like 'four times three' and 'half-four,' incorporating fundamental elements such as pliés, tendus, and pas de bourrée. These movements serve as the building blocks for the more advanced sensory drills that follow. Throughout the session, your instructor emphasizes the importance of proper alignment and the quality of movement, ensuring every transition is executed with maximum dignity and elegance.
What sets this class apart is the focus on sensory awareness. You will be challenged to perform familiar movements, such as a passé or a sous-sus on demi-pointe, while intentionally altering your visual focus. By looking in different directions or even closing your eyes, you force your body to rely on muscle memory and vestibular signals rather than visual cues. This deepens your understanding of where your weight is centered and how your limbs are positioned in space.
As you progress through the drills, which include rond de jambe and transitions into first position, you will learn to feel when your arm is in the correct spot or when your turnout is fully engaged. These drills are essential for dancers who find themselves losing their center when they look away from the mirror. By the end of this Broche Ballet practice, you will have a stronger, more intuitive grasp of your center, providing the stability needed for everything from a simple tendu to a powerful grand jeté.
